Determined by Christ: The Pauline Metaphor ‘Being in Christ’

Series: 

Author:
Barbara Beyer
What does it mean that the believers are ‘in Christ’ (Rom 8:1; 2 Cor 5:17 etc.)? The phrase has become so common to Christian discourse that it obscures the original meaning. By analysing key passages and stripping back the interpretive layers, this book portrays ‘in Christ’ in the light of Greek language usage. Insights from metaphor theory, onomastics, and ritual theory further the investigation. The book also addresses prepositional phrases like ‘with Christ’ and how ‘in Christ’ developed in the deutero-Pauline letters. This comprehensive perspective illuminates a crucial early-Christian phrase and how believers viewed their relationship to Christ.
Copyright Year:
2024
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978-90-04-68619-9
Publication:
22 Jan 2024
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978-90-04-68528-4
Publication:
24 Jan 2024
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Front Matter
Preliminary Material
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Figures
Abbreviations
Part 1 Preliminaries
Chapter 1 Observations and Resolutions
Chapter 2 Mapping the Past: The History of Research
Chapter 3 Methodological Re-orientation
Chapter 4 The Preposition ἐν: “Maid-of-All Work” and Magic Word
Chapter 5 What’s in a Title? The Meaning of Χριστός and κύριος
Chapter 6 The Argumentative Power of Experience: Baptism as a Ritual
Part 2 Exegesis
Introduction to Part 2
Chapter 7 In Christ Jesus through Baptism (Gal 3:26, 28)
Chapter 8 In Christ Jesus Because of God (1 Cor 1:30)
Chapter 9 Living in Christ as a Result of Having Come under His Rulership Who Now Is Also in Them (Rom 6:11; 8:1–2)
Chapter 10 Boundaries Crossed and the Pervasive Lordship of Christ (Rom 16:7, 11)
Chapter 11 Determined by Christ and His Love (2 Cor 5:17)
Chapter 12 Dominated by Christ “My” Lord and Thus Ruling Everything a Loss, So That Eventually God Will Judge “Me” to Be in Christ (Phil 3:9)
Part 3 Perspectives: “Being ‘in Christ’” among Similar Phenomena
Introduction to Part 3
Chapter 13 More ἐν Χριστῷ: The Power of Paul’s Coined, Catchy, and Sharp Phrasing
Chapter 14 More Prepositional Phrases: σὺν Χριστῷ, διὰ Χριστοῦ, and Others
Chapter 15 More Paul: ἐν Χριστῷ in the Deutero-Pauline Letters
Part 4 Determined by Christ: The Pauline Metaphor “Being ‘in Christ’”
Chapter 16 Results
Back Matter
Colon Analyses
Bibliography
Index of Modern Authors
Index of Subjects
Index of Ancient Sources
Barbara Beyer, Dr. theol. (Berlin 2020), is research assistant in the New Testament Department of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. She studied Protestant Theology as well as Library and Information Science at Humboldt University in Berlin.  
“Beyer demonstrates in the context of the ancient Greek-speaking world how Paul’s language could have been readily intelligible as meaning determined by Christ, and her exegetical chapters demonstrate some of the foremost ways that believers are determined by Christ. Beyer’s encyclopedia-like analysis of all the key prepositional constructions related to “being in Christ” in Paul’s epistles is replete with insightful, exegetical gems. [...] Dr. Beyer is to be commended for writing not only such a learned and insightful analysis of a central Pauline theme but one that is such a joy to continue thinking with and alongside of.”
– Joshua Roy Heavin, in: Bulletin for Biblical Research 35/2 (2025).

“Beyer’s critique of Deissmann and the tradition of interpretation that has grown from him is powerful and persuasive, and I share her view that the “in Christ” phrases refer broadly to being under the authority of Christ. The book combines an interest in theory with historical-critical close reading in a way which is very welcome ... [T]his is an important contribution to a major topic in Pauline studies with which future scholarship will need carefully to engage.”
– Teresa Morgan, in: Biblica 106/2 (2025).
Contents
List of Figures
Abbreviations

Part 1: Preliminaries


1 Observations and Resolutions
 1.1 The Evidence
 1.2 This Study

2 Mapping the Past: The History of Research
 2.1 Adolf Deissmann (1892 and Later Developments)
 2.2 Mystical Interpretations (1890s until 1930s)
 2.3 Ecclesiological Interpretations (1930s and 1940s)
 2.4 Differentiation and Generalisation (1930s until 1960s)
 2.5 Jewish Backgrounds on the Rise (1960s until 1990s)
 2.6 Current Views and Assessments
 2.7 Conclusion: A Map of the Past

3 Methodological Re-orientation
 3.1 Introduction to Metaphor Theory and Its Usefulness for Interpreting Biblical Texts
 3.2 “Being ‘in Christ’” as a Metaphor

4 The Preposition ἐν: “Maid-of-All Work” and Magic Word
 4.1 Deissmann’s Fundamental Accomplishments and the Way Forward
 4.2 Archaic Period
 4.3 Classical Period
 4.4 Hellenistic Period
 4.5 Imperial Period
 4.6 Conclusion and Congruency with Paul
 4.7 Ἐν Χριστῷ as Compared to Χριστὸς ἐν ὑμῖν/ἐμοί

5 What’s in a Title? The Meaning of Χριστός and κύριος
 5.1 Greek, Roman, and Jewish Naming Practices in the Imperial Period
 5.2 Χριστός and κύριος in Paul’s Letters
 5.3 Consequences for ἐν Χριστῷ and ἐν κυρίῳ

6 The Argumentative Power of Experience: Baptism as a Ritual
 6.1 Classifying Baptism as an Initiation Ritual
 6.2 Paul’s Interpretation of the Baptismal Ritual
 6.3 Characteristics of the Ritual of Baptism
 6.4 Conclusion

Part 2: Exegesis


Introduction to Part 2

7 In Christ Jesus through Baptism (Gal 3:26, 28)
 7.1 The Validity of the Promise (3:15–18)
 7.2 The Purpose of the Law (3:19–25)
 7.3 Baptism as the Means of Coming to be ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ (3:26–29)
 7.4 Sons through God’s Actions by His Son (4:1–7)
 7.5 Conclusion

8 In Christ Jesus Because of God (1 Cor 1:30)
 8.1 Leading Up to the Letter Body (1:1–9)
 8.2 The Argument of 1 Cor 1:10–2:5

9 Living in Christ as a Result of Having Come under His Rulership Who Now Is Also in Them (Rom 6:11; 8:1–2)
 9.1 The Present State of the Believers: Rom 6 and 8 within the Overall Frame of the Letter
 9.2 The Believers Are Dead to Sin and Living for God in Christ Jesus (6:1–14)
 9.3 The Change in Ownership Constitutes a Change in Behaviour with the Result of Eternal Life through Christ Jesus (6:15–7:6)
 9.4 The Role of the Law and the Calamity of Sin (Rom 7:7–25)
 9.5 The Reciprocal In-ness of Christ and the Believers, and the Spirit and the Believers (8:1–17)
 9.6 Conclusion: Being and Living “in Christ Jesus” in Rom 6 and 8

10 Boundaries Crossed and the Pervasive Lordship of Christ (Rom 16:7, 11)
 10.1 Becoming ἐν Χριστῷ as Crossing a Barrier (16:7)
 10.2 Being ἐν κυρίῳ as Being a Christ-Believer with a Different Lord (16:11)

11 Determined by Christ and His Love (2 Cor 5:17)
 11.1 The Basis of Boasting (5:11–13)
 11.2 Determined by Christ and His Love (5:14–17)
 11.3 Reconciliation Past and Present (5:18–6:2)
 11.4 Conclusion

12 Dominated by Christ “My” Lord and Thus Ruling Everything a Loss, So That Eventually God Will Judge “Me” to Be in Christ (Phil 3:9)
 12.1 Warning against Evil-Doers (3:1b–4a)
 12.2 Paul’s Previously Blameless Life as a Pharisee (3:4b–6)
 12.3 The Gain That Knowing Christ Has Brought (3:7–11)
 12.4 Running towards the Goal of the Resurrection (3:12–16)
 12.5 Conclusion

Part 3: Perspectives: “Being ‘in Christ’” among Similar Phenomena


Introduction to Part 3

13 More ἐν Χριστῷ: The Power of Paul’s Coined, Catchy, and Sharp Phrasing
 13.1 People in Christ Bearing Further Characteristics
 13.2 People Performing Activities Similar to “Being ‘in Christ’”
 13.3 Abstract Nouns in Christ
 13.4 Goods Owned in Christ
 13.5 “In Christ” as a Description of Circumstance or Condition
 13.6 Observations and Conclusions

14 More Prepositional Phrases: σὺν Χριστῷ, διὰ Χριστοῦ, and Others
 14.1 Σὺν Χριστῷ
 14.2 Διὰ Χριστοῦ
 14.3 Other Prepositional Phrases with Χριστός
 14.4 Ἐν πνεύματι
 14.5 Comparison and Conclusion

15 More Paul: ἐν Χριστῷ in the Deutero-Pauline Letters
 15.1 General Observations
 15.2 Colossians: Being in Christ in Light of Cosmic Christology
 15.3 Ephesians: Being in Christ as Opposed to Being Separated from Christ
 15.4 Second Thessalonians: Sharing in the Glorification of the Name of the Lord Jesus as Those Who Are in Him
 15.5 First Timothy: Faith and Love as God’s Gifts Bestowed on Those in Christ Jesus
 15.6 Second Timothy: Living in and Gifts Found in Christ Jesus
 15.7 Comparison and Conclusion

Part 4: Determined by Christ: The Pauline Metaphor “Being ‘in Christ’”


16 Results
 16.1 The Key Issues, How They Have Been Dealt With, and a Fresh Approach
 16.2 Gal 3:26, 28
 16.3 1 Cor 1:30
 16.4 Rom 6:11; 8:1–2
 16.5 Rom 16:7, 11
 16.6 2 Cor 5:17
 16.7 Phil 3:9
 16.8 Overarching Themes and Observations
Appendix: Colon Analyses
Bibliography
Index
This book would be of interest to academic scholars, postgraduate and graduate students, pastors and educated laymen interested in New Testament Studies, Theology, and Classics.
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